Conclusions

Robb, John; Elster, Ernestine S.; Isetti, Eugenia; Traverso, Antonella

doi:10.2307/j.ctvdjrqn4.16

Cited by 1 publication

(2 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Data on osteological age and sex from the Grotta Scaloria samples obtained from [ 90 ]; for the Passo di Corvo samples obtained from [ 70 ]; for the Masseria Candelaro and Titolo samples, determined by authors, although also see [ 69 ] for previous analysis of Masseria Candelaro skeletal remains. Radiocarbon dates obtained from [ 60 – 62 , 91 , 92 ], date from PDC001 first published here.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…100 km to the south. These sites were predominantly occupied during the Early (6000–5500 cal BCE) and Middle (5500–4300 cal BCE) Neolithic and, in the same periods, utilised for burial and disposal of the dead [ 60 – 62 ]. Seventeen of the individuals included in this study have directly associated radiocarbon dates, and several of these are published here for the first time ( Fig 2 ).…”

Section: Archaeological Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Histotaphonomic analysis of bone bioerosion reveals a regional framework of diverse deathways in the Neolithic of Southeast Italy

Thompson,

Panella,

Booth

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The wide diversity of Neolithic funerary practices is increasingly recognised. In Southeast Italy, recent studies have drawn attention to the co-existence of multiple ways of treating the dead within single sites and across the region. In this study, we address how such diverse deathways form a regional framework of ritual practice through histotaphonomic analysis of bone bioerosion. Samples were obtained from articulated, semi-articulated and disarticulated remains from four sites in Apulia which each presented different modes of treatment and disposal of the dead. Bone thin sections were analysed by light microscopy to characterise microstructural preservation through features including bacterial bioerosion, staining, inclusions, and Wedl tunnelling. We investigate the early post-mortem histories of individuals whose remains ended up in various states of dis/articulation and diverse depositional contexts. Disarticulated remains frequently displayed arrested or extensive bacterial bioerosion, which was also found in articulated and semi-articulated skeletons. Additionally, remains deposited in similar contexts, as well as articulated and disarticulated remains deposited together in the same context, often showed different histotaphonomic characteristics, suggesting diverse early post-mortem trajectories. As a result, we argue that Neolithic deathways in southeastern Italy incorporated a high level of diversity in the early post-mortem treatment of the body. A framework for funerary practices emerges, whereby disarticulated remains probably originated from bodies which had been buried previously and subjected to varying extents of shelter, exposure to invertebrates, and duration of burial. However, we acknowledge the ongoing research into the origins of bacterial bioerosion and the problem of equifinality, which leaves open the possibility for further scenarios of early post-mortem treatment.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Archaeological Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%